All else being equal, I positively do NOT want to root my device. What I DO appreciate is your sourcing and recommending any apps which improve the user experience WITHIN the Kobo-sanctioned environment.

You have another thread that addresses just exactly this; it ought to be a sticky as well.

And should you folks find a non-invasive way to install Android Market (so, for example, I could add Scotiabank app), that would be terrific.

All else being equal, I positively do NOT want to root my device. What I DO appreciate is your sourcing and recommending any apps which improve the user experience WITHIN the Kobo-sanctioned environment.

You have another thread that addresses just exactly this; it ought to be a sticky as well.

And should you folks find a non-invasive way to install Android Market (so, for example, I could add Scotiabank app), that would be terrific.

Karma you to!

Not sure it will be possible to install market without rooting. We'll see. Either way, if something goes wrong your warranty will be voided.

This will not let you install Android Market or the proprietary google apps, but I was excited when I saw that the latest version of Astro (thanks Jeff) had the backup apk function. There may be an app I can get by using that from my Nexus S backup. So far, I have what I need on the Vox.

This will not let you install Android Market or the proprietary google apps, but I was excited when I saw that the latest version of Astro (thanks Jeff) had the backup apk function. There may be an app I can get by using that from my Nexus S backup. So far, I have what I need on the Vox.

I would recommend Titanium backup for that, since you can even set scheduled backups of all your installed apps and data (aside from built-in stuff, unless you're rooted).

My thanks to Jeff, too. I also have a Nexus S, and it worked perfectly. I installed Astro on my phone, backed up the app I wanted to transfer, copied it to my computer and from there to the Vox, and installed it. I still can't access Android Market directly from my Vox, but this will do for now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by taming

This will not let you install Android Market or the proprietary google apps, but I was excited when I saw that the latest version of Astro (thanks Jeff) had the backup apk function. There may be an app I can get by using that from my Nexus S backup. So far, I have what I need on the Vox.

(NOTE: Make sure you install the busybox apk and then RUN IT to complete the install!)

Steps

1. First, using your terminal of choice, connect to the local shell. Some terminals will default to local, or be local-only. ConnectBot requires you choose the local option and enter a nickname (it can simply be blank for local).

2. In the console type:

Code:

mount | grep /system

The mount command wants to output all the mount data on your device, but the pipe (this thing --> |) sends the output to a grep command which filters it and prints only the lines that contain "/system", which is the line we need.

3. You'll see that the ro (read-only) flag is active, meaning we can't currently delete anything in this area of storage.

4. Time to get to work. Type "su" to request (and gain) root access. If successful you'll see your shell prompt change to a # symbol.

5. To remount the /system partition as read-write just type:

Code:

mount -o remount,rw -t ext4 /dev/block/mmcblk0p1 /system

You may notice your text scrolling off the edge of your screen, that's fine.

6. Anyway, I'm not going to get into what all that means, but it will remount /system as read-write.

You can confirm that by running that same command we wrote earlier:

Code:

mount | grep /system

And you'll see the ro flag has become an rw flag.

Now, change directory to the folder with the built-in apps.

Code:

cd /system/app

7. Typing "ls" will list all the apps in this folder. It will probably scroll off the top of your screen but in ConnectBot you can scroll up and down with the touchscreen.

8. To permanently remove an app simply use the command:

Code:

rm appname.apk

9. To temporarily remove an app, use the command:

Code:

mv appname.apk appname.apk.bak

Additional Notes:

The following is a list of all apps found on a stock Vox as of the last firmware update: